Container



Oct. 17, 1944.

C. Z. MONROE CONTAINER Filed March 10, 1941 3 Shee ts-Sheet l Oct. 17,1944. g, z MONROE I 2,360,439

CONTAINER Filed March 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 17 1944. c z,MONROE 2,360,439

CONTAINER Filed March 10, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct, 17, 1944CONTAINER.

Charles Z. Monroe, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The American Paper BottleCompany, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 10, 1941,Serial No. 382,638

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to paper containers suitabl for use in thepackaging of liquids for distribution, and particularly to containersfabricated of sheet paper such as that disclosed in Patent 2,047,891,granted July 17, 1936, to Henry T. Scott.

The container disclosed in that patent is tubular, square incross-section, has a flat bottom and a top or upper end closurecomprising a plurality of panels folded relatively to one another insuch manner as to form a rigid liquidtight closure having a distinctiveappearance, two of such panels extending upwardly and inwardly from theupper edges of opposed side panels to the base of a. central rib so thatthe closure as a whole resembles a gabled structure. The containerbefore being charged and sealed is coated with a substance, usually ofparaflinlike nature, which prevents moisture from penetrating into itswalls and weakening them and, in the usual case, a staple or othersecuring device is passed through the multi-ply rib to pro videincreased resistance to accidental opening. A container of this type maybe opened by a consumer in various ways, as, for instance, by removingthe staple and unfolding the several panels of the top or end closure,but it has been found to be advantageous in practice to provide thecontainer with a separately formed pouring aperture which makes itunnecessary for the user to remove the staple from the sealing rib andto unfold the container top closure.

The present invention relates more particular- 1y to means forfacilitating the discharge, from a container of the general typedescribed, of all or any portion of its contents, which means may bereadily manipulated by a consumer, provides a highly efilcientextensible spout by means of which a desired quantity of liquid may beaccurately poured without drip or wastage, and which is of suchcharacter as to ensure that the l quid content of the container iseifectively sealed against contamination at all times. particularlyafter the container has been opened and portion of its contentsdischarged, the pouring spout or lip being retracted and shielded fromthe air and from contact with foreign objects after each pouringoperation.

Because of the natural tendency of a paper sheet which has beendistorted to remain in distorted condition, the container, after it hasonce be n opened. w ll tend to remain at least partially open. Where aortion only of its liouid content has been discharged and it is desiredthat the remainder be preserved for future use,

it is important that the container be completely reclosed and maintainedcompletely closed until again intentionally opened, to preventcontamination of the contained liquid. The improved container includesas one of its useful features means for positively holding itsrelatively movable parts in container closing relationship after it hasbeen initially opened and reclosed. The holding means provided is ofsimple nature, easily manipulated by the consumer and does not add tothe cost, nor detract from the appearance of the container. a

The container with the improved liquid discharge means may be fabricatedat relatively low cost and is of the type which may be squared out,coated, charged and sealed upon a complete automatic paper container orbottle fabricating machine. The details of construction of the impaperblank from which the container is made;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the complete container. after chargingand sealing;

Figure 3 is a similar view but showing the container as it appears afterthe initial step toward opening the discharge orifice has been taken;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the container asit appears after it has been opened and the pouring spout has beenextended to pouring position;

Figure 5 is a view of the container as seen from above, with pouringspout extended as in Figure 4. partly broken away to show constructionaldetails;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6--6 of Figure 5, showing the container inpouring position;

Figure '7 is a further perspective view of the upper portion of thecontainer, showing certain de ails not clearly shown in other views;

Fi ure 8 is an axial section through the container, taken at rightangles to the sealing rib, and after the initial opening operation hasbeen completed;

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 8 showing in section thoseportions of the container which comprise the pouring spout, suchportions being shown in full lines as they appear when the container issealed and in dotted lines as they appear when the pouring spout isextended;

Figure is a plan view of the upper end of a modified form of blank fromwhich a container of the type contemplated herein may be fabricated,such container to have means for positively holding its relativelymovable parts in container closing relationship;

Figure 11 is partial plan view of this blank as seen from the reverseside;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a containertion of the container.

The container, when completed, is a rigid selfsupporting structure,although light in weight, being fabricated of good quality sheet paperand folded in such a manner as to ensure maximum strength. Preferably itis fabricated from a single sheet which is cut and scored in the mannerillustrated in Figure 1, although, as will hereinafter appear, it may befabricated in two or more parts, if desired. Generally speaking, thecontainer has three principal portions, the tubular body, the bottom,and the upper end closure, that portion of the blank shown in Figure 1which lies intermediate the parallel lines A-A and BB, respectively,subsequently becomes the tubular body, that portion below the line B-Bthe bottom, and that portion above the line A-A the upper end closure.Each of these major portions comprises a plurality of panels the edgesof which are defined by incisions or score lines. The four side wallpanels are indicated at 20, 2!, 22 and 23, respectively, and the endflap by means of which the outer edge of panel 23 is secured to theouter edge of panel 20, is indicated at 24. The bottom panels areindicated at 25, 26, 21 and 28, panels 25 and 21 being designated theminor bottom flaps and panels 26 and 28 the major bottom flaps.

The foldable top closure includes four principal sections, two sections,the comers of which are indicated at a, I), f, g, and c, d, h, 2',respectively, each comprising a plurality of panels and being generallydesignated overfolding sections, while the sections the corners of whichare indicated at b, c, g, h and d, e, i, k, respectively, arecollapsible sections, or underfolding sections, the several panels ofwhich underlie the panels of the overfolding sections previouslyreferred to after the container has been completed. For furtmparticulars as to the exact design, construction, and relativeproportions of the several panels of the container just referred to,reference may be had to the patent to Henry T. Scott No. 2,047,891,previously referred to.

The completed container may be said to comprise two portions, adisplaceable portion on the one hand, and the entire remaining portionof the container on the other. That portion of the container which isdisplaceable for the purpose of providing an opening and a pouring spoutcomprises several panels of the foldable ton closure, a panel thecorners of which are indicated by the letters n, o, f, g, hereinafterdesignated an outer panel and which in outline is substantiallyrectangular, and two triangular panels, one indicated by the letters 0,p, g, positioned at its apices and the other by the letters a, t, k. Inthe completed container the triangular inner panels Just referred tounderlie the rectangular outer panel 12, o, f, g, as may be observedfrom an inspection of the drawings. The rectangular outer panel definedby the letters n, o, I, a in turn comprises several sub-panels which maybe relatively folded as the container is opened and the pouring spout isextended. one of these sub-panels comprising the lift or access tab 30hingedly connected to the remainder of panel a, b, I, g along the scoredportion or line v, w and the remaining sub-panels being those whosecorners are indicated at n, v;

f, y and 1/, 1, respectively. The

margin of the lift tab 30 is normally connected to the three sub-panelsjust described by uncut or bridging elements 3| which alternate withincisions 32 which define a line of severance between the edge of thetab 30 and the adjacent sub-panels, which bridging elements may bereadily broken when a lifting force is applied to the end of the tab,as, for instance, by means of a finger-nail inserted into thefinger-nail cut-out 33. This line of severance between the tab and thecontiguous sub-panels forms the central portion of a longer line ofseverance between the stationary and displaceable portions of thecontainer, which complete line of severance also ineludes a series ofaligned incisions extending from n to v and from w through 0 to p, andfrom s to t, the points 11. and t being substantially coincident in thecompleted container. The line of severance t--t' formed in the flap 24underlies the severance line n, 1: after the blank has been formed intoa tube.

The complete line of severance Just described may be formed in variousways but preferably it is formed by aligned incisions spaced apart bynarrow uncut portions or elements which may be rather readily broken orsevered when it is desired to open the container but which elements aresufficiently strong to resist breakage due to rough handling of thecontainer. With the exception of the lines of severance, which have justbeen described as comprising alternating incisions and bridgingelements, all of the other panel edge defining lines of the foldable topclosure (indicated by dotted lines in the drawings) are lines ofweakness formed by scoring or indenting the paper just suflicientlydeeply to ensure that it may be folded into panels of definite size andshape during the folding operation.

It is preferable to employ a backing member or panel such as that thecorners of which are indicated at t, I, m, k in Figure 1, which backingsheet or panel is integral with the flap 24 and underlies therectangular panel n. 0, f, 0, and the upper portion of the side wall 20,when the blank has been formed into a tube. The upper portion of thispanel, like the rectangular panel 1:, 0, f, y, is divided into hingedlyinterconnected sub-panels by score lines k, z, m, z and k, m, scoring k,z underlying scoring 17, 1/ and scoring m, z underlying scoring .7, .1:when the backing panel is swung into position against the rear face ofthe outer panel 11., 0, f, 9, so that both panels may be simultaneouslyfolded about superposed scorings or lines of weakness. The backing sheetperforms several functions but at this time it need only be stated thatone of these functions is to close the aperture 33 in the outer panelprovided for the insertion of a finger-nail or the like, and to likewiseunderlie the spaced incisions which define the free edge of the tab 30,to prevent escape of liquid therethrough.

.efliciency in this respect.

The completed container is shown in Figure 2, the backing sheet beingcompletely hidden and the tab 30 being flush with the remainder of theouter panel, from which panel it is struck or out in the blank formingoperation. To open the container for the discharge of all or any portionof its contents, the tab 30 is first lifted as indicated in Figure 3,the several bridging elements 3| connecting the edge of the tab and theouter panel being broken. The severance of the displaceable portion fromthe remainder of the container has thus been initiated and it remainsonly to complete the severance by breaking the bridging elements alongthe lines of severance st, no, we and op (also it). This may beaccomplished in various ways without difficulty, by the use of thefingers only, and when it has been accomplished the upper edge of thedisplaceable portion of the container has been completely released fromthe remainder and it only remains to manipulate the displaceable portionin such manner that it forms a pouring spout.

This can lreadily be accomplished by inserting a small instrument, such,for instance, as that diagrammatically indicated at 36, beneath the baseof the tab 30 and over the edge of the underlying or backing sheet, andthen pulling this backing sheet forwardl with the aid of such instrumentuntil the pouring spout is fully formed, as indicated in Figures 4, 5and 6. Pressure applied by the fingers at the sides of the container andat the upper forward corners, as indicated in Figure 3, serves to assistin the formation of the pouring spout by facilitating the breaking downof the outer panel n, o, g and its backing sheet into sub-panels, aboutthe superposed score lines formed therein. This manipulation of thedisplaceable section of the container results not only in the opening ofthe container but simultaneously in the formation of a pouring spout ofhigh efficiency, the pouring lip being relatively high; i. 6., wellabove the normal level of'the surface of the liquid in the container,thus enabling the container to be tilted to a substantial angle beforethe liquid reaches the pouring lip, but likewiseprovides an angularpouring lip with sharp clean-cut edges over which a liquid such as milkmay pass without drip and without running down the outer surface of thespout.

It is highly advantageous in the pouring of milk or other food productsto pour from a spout well above the normal level of the liquid, as theconsumer may more accurately control the direction and volume ofdischarge of the stream of fiuid when this is so. The pouring spoutprovided by the present invention is of the highest In the event that aportion only of the contents of the container are discharged, and it isdesired to reserve the remainder for future use, the pouring spout maybe thrust inwardly, the outer panel and'its backing sheet assuming theiroriginal shapes and positions and the flap 30 can then be lowered forthe purpose of protecting the pouring lip of the pouring spout againstcontamination and for the further purpose of holding it in retractedposition. If desired, .the edge of the tab may be undercut or providedwith other means for retaining it in the plane of the panel n, o, f, gand thus closely confining the backing sheet, which may have a: tendencyto spring toward pouring position somewhat after having beenonce 8X9tended.

It is intended that the container shall be coated during the process offormation with a coating of paramn or paraffin-like substance'whichstifiens and renders more rigid the container as a, whole and likewisecloses any incisions formed in the paper. Despite the formation of theline of severance between the displaceable portion of the container andthe remainder, no leakage may occur, this being due to the fact that theleakproofing composition has the effect of sealing the incisionspreviously made. For some purposes the container may be used without abacking sheet in rear of the displaceable outer panel, particularly whenit is not essential that the container be maintained in sanitarycondition after it has once been opened. Where no backing sheet is used,of course tab 30 will not be necessary, but I prefer to employ a backingsheet, whether formed as an integral portion of the blank, asillustrated in Figure 1, or formed separately and thereafter attached,especially when the container is to be used in the distribution ofliquid as shown.

Having thus described the invention, what is foods.

The blank shown in Figures 10 and 11 may be folded and secured so as toform the container .of Figure 12, having a tubular body with a tophaving fixed and movable portions as before. Inthe case of this blank,however, the rectangular panel 40 is separately formed and attached atthe outset to the main blank 4| instead of comprising an integral partof this blank. The number, shapes and relationship of the several panelsis the same,'however, save for a feature to be discussed, and theresulting container may be opened and reclosed in the same manner asthat illustrated in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive.

"" In the container of Figures 10 to 15, however, the free end of theaccess tab 42 is provided with lateral extensions 42 and 42 whichunderlie bendable tongues 43 and 44, respectively, which are integralportions of the side wall panel 45. These lateral extensions 42 and 42may be shaped as desired, but preferably the upper edge of each isinclined upwardly and outwardly away from the end of tab 42 so that thelower edge of each of the bendable tongues 43 and 44 will be downwardlyand inwardly inclined. With the lower edges of the tongues 43 and 44 soinclined, these tongues will, when bent outwardly as shownin Figures 13.14 and 15, lie immediately above the tab extensions 42 and 42respectively, and will positively lock the tongue against upwardmovement. downward and outward inclinations of the lower edges of thebendable tongues, these members will, when turned outwardly by aconsumer at the time Of package reclosure, not permitthe tab extensionsto slip over the retaining elements. but will hold the tab firmly in itsoriginal, container closing position and the pouring spout in retractedand fully protected position. The value of such looking or retainingmeans is great when the liquid content of the container is milk, thelikelihood of contamination of the milk remaining in a partly emptiedcontainer being minimized. If desired, scoring such as 43' and 44' maybe impressed in the paper at the base of each bendable tongue, but inthe average case this is not needed. It will be apparent that the tab42, tab extensions 42 and 42 and tongues 43 and 44 may be struck fromthe upper inclined panel of the top if desired, but I prefer-to make thetab 42 relatively-longand to have the bendable tongues at the upper endof a side panel,

Because of the claimed as new and desired to be secured by LettersPatent is: 1

1. A self-supporting sheet paper container having a tubular body portionand a plurality of relatively stiff marginally interconnectedpanelsdisposed to collectively form a rigid normally liquid-tight end closure,portion of said end closure having a permanently fixed relationship tothe tubular body at all times and a portion being displaceable toprovide a pouring opening and pouring spout, the displaceable portionincluding an outer panel and two inner panels underlying the outer paneland disposed in generally parallel relationship thereto, one edge ofeach such panel being hingedly connected to a rigid portion of thecontainer, a second edge of each inner panel being hingedly connected toan edge of the outer panel, and the sole remaining edges of the severalpanels of the displaceable portion being attached to the rigid portionof the end closure by readily severable connecting means disposed alonga continuous line of severance, the outer panel being weakened alongfold lines to permit it to be broken down into angularly disposedconnected sub-panels after said connecting means has been severed, tofacilitate the formation of a pouring spout.

2. A self-supporting sheet paper container having a tubular body portionand a plurality of relatively stifl marginally interconnected panelsdisposed to collectively form a rigid normally liquid-tight end closure,portion of said end" closure having a permanently fixed relationship tothe tubular body at all times and a portion being displaceable toprovide a pouring opening and pouring spout, the displaceable portionincluding a fiat outer panel and two fiat triangular inner panelsunderlying the outer panel and disposed in generally parallelrelationship thereto, one edge of each triangular inner panel beinghingedly connected to a rigid portion of the container, a. second edgeof each triangular inner panel being hingedly connected to an edge ofthe outer panel, and the sole remaining edges of the several panels ofthe displaceable portion being attached to the rigid portion of the endclosure by readily severable connecting means disposed along acontinuous line of severance, the

.outer panel being weakened along fold lines to permit it to be brokendown into angularly disposed connected sub-panels after said connectingmeans has been severed, to facilitate the formation of a pouring spout.

3. A self-supporting sheet paper container having a tubular body portionand a plurality of relatively stiff marginally interconnected panelsdisposed to collectively form a rigid normally liquid-tight end closure,portion of said end closure having a permanently fixed relationship tothe tubular body at all times and a portion being displaceable toprovide a pouring opening and pouring spout, the displaceable portionincluding a generally rectangular outer panel inclined to the axis ofthe container body and the lower edge of which is hingedly connected tothe container body, and two inner panels underlying the outer panel anddisposed in generally parallel relationship thereto, one edge of eachsuch inner panel being hingedly connected to a rigid portion of thecontainer, a second edge of each inner panel being hingedly connected toan edge of the outer panel, and the sole remaining edges of the severalpanels of the displaceable portion being attached to the rigid portionof the end closure by readily severable connecting means disposed alonga continuous line of severance, the outer panel being weakened along'fold lines to permit it to be broken down into angularly disposedconnected sub-panels after said connecting means has been severed, tofacilitate the formation of a pouring spout.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which two weakened fold linesextend from a common point on the upper edge of the outer panel to thelower corners of such panel to provide a pointed pouring spout when thepanel is displaced.

5. A self-supporting sheet paper container having a tubular body portionand a plurality of relatively stiff marginally interconnected panelsdisposed to collectively form a. rigid normally liquid-tight endclosure, portion of said end closure having a permanently fixedrelationship to the tubular body at all times and a portion beingdisplaceable to provide a pouring opening and pouring spout, thedisplaceable portion having its upper edge connected to the fixedportion of the end closure by readily severable elements and its loweredge hingedly connected in part to the container body and in part to thefixed portion of the end closure, said displaceable portion comprising aplurality of relatively foldable subpanels.

6. A self-supporting sheet paper container having a tubular body portionand a plurality of relatively stiif marginally interconnected panelsdisposed to collectively form a rigid normally liquid-tight end closure,portion .of said end closure having a permanently fixed relationship tothe tubular body at all times and a portion beedges hingedly connectedthereto, and being divided by scored portions into relatively foldablepanels so that, after severance of its upper'edge from the rigid portionof the, container the displaceable portion may be drawn laterally toopen the container and provide a pouring spout.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which a central part of thedisplaceable portion of the container is two plies in thickness and theouter ply is cut away to normally receive a. lift tab hingedly securedto the rigid portion of the container, for the purpose set forth.

8. A sheet paper container a minor portion of the wall of which isjoined to the major portion thereof along a weakened line of severanceso that it may be partially separated from said major portion andextended to form an upwardly opening pouring spout, and a tab hingedlyconnected to said major portion and adapted to overlie and protect saidpouring spout when the pouring spout is retracted, the free end of thetab being enlarged and the container major portion having spacedbendable tongues for engaging said tab enlargement and to hold the tabin spout retaining and protecting position after the spout has beenextended and retracted.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which the free end of the tabis provided with laterally projecting elements and the container majorportion is provided with opposed bendable tongues with downwardly andinwardly inclined lower edges, which edges are adapted to engage theupper edges of the said projecting elements of the tab respectively,when bent outwardly, to hold the tab in spout retaining and protectingposition after it has been extended and retracted.

10. A self-supporting paper container comprising a plurality of fiatmarginally interconnected panels, a group of which at the upper end ofthe container are so relatively disposed as to form a top closure whichincludes a transversely extending permanent rib, one panel of said groupbeing an inclined rectangular outer panel connecting the upper edge of abody panel to the base of the rib and the adjacent top closure panelsbeing triangular and folded under the lateral margins of saidrectangular panel, said rectangular panel and said triangularunderfolded panels being divided, respectively, into upper and lowerportions by a continuous severable weakened strip or tear line spaceddownwardly from the rib, the laterally connected lower portions of saidthree panels together comprising a pouring spout which may be extendedwithout disturbing the rib.

11. A sheet paper container a minor portion of I the wall of which isjoined to the major portion thereof along a weakened line of severanceso that it may be partially separated from said ma- :or portion andextended to form an upwardly opening pouring spout, and a tab hingedlyconnected to said major portion along a transverse hinge line above thesaid minor portion of the container wall and adapted to be folded downso as to overlie and protect said pouring spout when the pouring spoutis retracted, the free end of the tab and the container major portionhaving interengageable means for detachably holding the tab in positionto protect and retain said spout after it has been extended andretracted.

12. A sheet paper container a portion of the wall of which is partiallyseparable from the remainder to form an upwardly opening pouring spoutthe lower end of which is hingedly connected to the container wall, anda tab hingedly connected to said container wall above the partiallyseparable portion and normally overlying the said separable portion andprotecting the pouring lip against contamination, said tab beingupwardly displaceable about a hinge line above the pouring spout topermit extension of the spout and being downwardly displaceable afterthe spout is retracted to cover andprotect the same.

13. A self-supporting paper container comprising a plurality of flatmarginally interconnected panels so angularly disposed as to form a bodyportion and a top closure therefor, the top closure including aplurality of panels and a transversely extending rigid terminal rib andbeing weakened along a continuous line spaced from the rib and from thebody and extending entirely across three adjacent angularly disposed toppanels, each of these three top panels being thus divided into an upperportion and a lower portion, the three marginally interconnected lowerportions of the divided panels together comprising an upwardly openinglaterally extensible pouring spout, the extension of which is possiblewhen the panels are broken along the weakened line, without disturbingthe rib.

' CHARLES Z. MONROE.

